Sanford, MI Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Sanford, Midland County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for Sanford What TALON shows

What weather hits Sanford?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 76 days in the Midland forecast zone and Midland County — the most common reported hazard around Sanford, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (54 days) and high winds (28 days).

Hazard	Days reported	Most recent	Worst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds	76	Jun 2026	Jun 8, 2008 · $500,000 damage
Heavy snow & winter storms	54	Nov 2025	Apr 14, 2018 · $1.0 million damage
High winds	28	Apr 2022	Mar 8, 2017 · $7.0 million damage
Flooding	15	May 2020	May 18, 2020 · $10 million damage
Extreme cold & wind chill	14	Jan 2026	Feb 3, 2007 · $25,000 damage
Excessive heat	14	Jun 2026	—
Ice storms & sleet	9	Jan 2020	Dec 1, 2019 · $50,000 damage
Lightning casualties & damage	6	Jul 2006	May 30, 2006 · $50,000 damage

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1996–2026 (the latest year is partial). A "day" is a date with at least one report in the Midland forecast zone and Midland County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Sanford?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGRR (Grand Rapids, MI), about 80 miles southwest. Radar beams climb as they travel, so the height of the lowest scan over town decides how low in a storm the radar can see.

Radar	Distance	Lowest beam over Sanford	View
KGRR Grand Rapids, MI	80 mi southwest	6,800 ft	Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KDTX Detroit, MI	82 mi southeast	7,100 ft	Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KAPX Gaylord, MI	86 mi north	7,700 ft	Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation

Beam height is the center of the 0.5° scan above the radar, with standard refraction. Mountains near a radar can block it further.

Tornado & hail history near Sanford

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 45 tornadoes within 25 miles of Sanford, 12 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F3 on June 12, 1984, which passed about 24 miles east-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on June 26, 2021, which passed about 21 miles northwest of town.

Hail: 170 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 23 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on July 27, 2014.

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center — tornadoes 1950–2025, hail 1955–2025. Distances are to each tornado's track; ratings before February 2007 use the original Fujita scale.

On TALON you get Sanford's live radar loop, rain/snow/ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks with arrival times and NWS warnings free; close-up radar and rotation detection are part of TALON Pro.

Sanford radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Sanford, MI?

KGRR (Grand Rapids, MI), about 80 miles southwest. KDTX (Detroit, MI) is 82 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Sanford?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Sanford the lowest scan from KGRR is about 6,800 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.

Is TALON's radar for Sanford free?

Yes — the US radar loop, rain/snow/ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and NWS warnings are free in any browser. Close-up radar, rotation detection and longer forecasts are part of TALON Pro.

Should I rely on radar for my safety?

No app replaces official warnings. When the National Weather Service issues a warning for Sanford, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.

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